Have we been here before, or are we only visiting? I watched a movie on Netflix with a surprise ending that humans were created by aliens from another galaxy. They created us in their image, but we had our defects. With the wave of her hand, the Empress of the Andromedans destroyed all human life. So we negotiate our way through the few decades we have and accept the challenges of the day. Suddenly, we opened our eyes, and we were here. Indeed, we were all visitors, as we did not begin in this noisy, sunlight-and-sunset place.

We are track and field participants. We run both the sprint and the marathon. We jump hurdles. At times, we pole vault. Whatever the coach requires. Once we knew warmth and muffled sound security. Now the strobe lights of life are mesmerizing. It is always a good time to slow down and consider our sense of place. Memorial Day is tomorrow. Time is moving forward. Time for swimming pools to open. Cookouts on every patio. Salameats at the Brooks house. Summer is here. Turn around, and it will be the fourth of July. Turn once more and Labor Day will be here.

‘Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.’ Robert Frost

Peace comes from the ordinary. Peace is in the sound of the bullfrogs singing. It is in the sound of the fish jumping. It was in the hours of game playing and engaging conversation with Marcy and Brock this weekend. Peace is inherent in understanding. The better we understand each other, the more peace we feel. Often, we worry about folks who neither know us nor care to. We fret over their approval when we are the furthest thing from their minds. We dance our special dance, and we sing our best song in the marketplace to curry favor. Things will be better if the powerful like us hold us close to their breast. We are not fortunate son or daughter, but we want to be.

We chase the prize. Since we first opened our eyes, we noticed life is for the swift and strong. Cunning is vital. We noticed it in the sandbox. Some kids played nicely, shared their plastic shovel and bucket. Other kids wanted their shovel and bucket as well as yours. Humans are confusing.